arrival at tioman island.

After the retreat, we took a two-hour taxi ride to the coast, then an hour and a half ferry ride from Mersing to Tioman Island.

Colorful Mersing.

Our first view of Tioman.  It definitely felt like we were in a Lost episode.

The ferry dropped us off at Paya village, then this little yellow motorboat took the four of us and our suitcases to the resort.  There are only 450 residents on Tioman and no roads, so to get anywhere you either hike through the rain-forest, or take a motorboat.

Our driver and buddy, Don.

Rounding the bend.  Sigh.  Doesn’t get much better than this.

Don pulled us right up t0 the beach of the Melina Beach Resort, we rolled up our pant legs and waded the last couple of feet in the warm, smooth-as-glass sea, and a few steps across the sand was our room.  We stayed on the left side of this wood cabin.  It was a teensy, pretty basic room, but since we wanted to spend  every waking moment outside, it was just perfect.